Arguing With The Maoists

(sent to NepalNews)

You Can Not Argue Against A Constituent Assembly

The Nepali Congress might have talked of such an assembly half a century ago, but they messed up. BP Koirala gave the army to the king on a silver platter back then. He messed up.

Parties like the Sadbhavana did talk of such an assembly post 1990, but did not make any headway.

It is the Maoists who have taken the lead on the idea of a constituent assembly this past decade. The Nepali Congress and the UML both argued against the idea for as long as they could.

But a constituent assembly makes democratic sense. You can not argue against it. You can only argue for free and fair elections to such an assembly.

You Can Not Argue Against A Democratic Republic

Democracy and monarchy are like night and day. They do not go hand in hand.

You can not argue against the republican agenda of the Maoists.

And the country's mood has fundamentally shifted. The call of the April Revolution is a republic.

You Can Not Argue Against Federalism

It is long overdue. 27 million is too many people to keep under a unitary state. Nepal is too diverse.

This is the third idea on which the Maoists have taken a lead. The Sadbhavana is the only party in the seven party alliance that has had a map for federalism, but they were not listened to, not by the voters, not by the other parties.

You Can Not Argue Against Social Justice For The DaMaJaMa

The Maoists get credit here also. They sure have put this front and center, although the composition of their leadership has serious deficiencies on the same count.

You Can Not Argue Against Security Sector Restructuring

There is no escaping that. The security sector is part of the overall state. This is not something different from the state restructuring being talked about.

You Can Not Argue Against An Interim Parliament

This parliament will not organize the constituent assembly elections. Credit for the April Revolution goes to eight parties, not seven. The interim parliament should reflect that fact.

You Can Not Argue Against Eight Party Governments Also At Local Levels

If you don't do this, you are leaving a vacuum. This is also a way to dissolve the local governments of the Maoists.


It is important to have this list of things we can not argue against when dealing with the Maoists. This will make us stronger on things that we can argue against.


You Can Argue Against The Presence Of The 100,000 Maoist Militia

Arms management applies to them first and foremost. If those 100,000 Maoist militia do not give up their arms, there is no point in holding elections to anything. Party cadres of any party may not bear arms. There has to be an agreement on principle. But if some Maoist cadres disobey, they will not be a party discipline problem, but rather a law enforcement issue. The Maoist leaders are going to have to agree to that.

Parties can not be in the law enforcement business. That is not allowed.

And if the Maoists refuse, they are not serious about holding constituent assembly elections. It would be time to call their bluff.

You Can Argue Against Lenin's And Mao's Rise To Power

Lenin used a constituent assembly to his nefarious ends. Mao held peace talks, he allowed a few small, insignificant parties to coexist with his after he came to power.

My idea of a constituent assembly and that of Lenin do not match. My idea of multi-party democracy, and that of Mao do not match. And this is no 1917. This is no 1949.

There are no two ways of understanding multi-party democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The Maoists have expressed commitment to all three. Let them come clean on each.


It is important that the seven parties do not get bogged down in the wrong arguments so bad they end up not making the right arguments.

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The building tension has to be deescalated. Both sides have to make room for each other. The summit talks are important. They can not be allowed to fail. There should not be any need for an October Revolution.

(1) Agree on an interim parliament. Interim Parliament: 101 Members Total
(2) Agree on eight party governments at the local levels.
(3) Get the Maoists to completely disarm their 100,000 militia.
(4) Push the two armies into barracks. Agree to restructure the police.
(5) Agree on the date and modalities to a constituent assembly. All Members To The Constituent Assembly Must Be Directly Elected
(6) The shape of the federalism is to be decided by the assembly. The fate of the monarchy is to be decided through a referendum. The judiciary is to be restructured.